Kligerman posts a solid seventh place finish at Dover

Parker Kligerman ran inside the top 10 in the early stages of the Nationwide Series race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway before making his first pit stop under caution on lap 37. With teams on varying strategies, Kligerman restarted 23rd and then slowly but surely chipped his way back into the top 10 as the 200-lap event remained caution free over the final 160 laps. When the field crossed the stripe, the Connecticut native had sent Bandit Chippers out with a seventh-place finish in their final race onboard Kyle Busch Motorsports' (KBM) No. 77 Camry in 2013.

"We had a good Bandit Chippers Camry this weekend," said Kligerman, who posted his 10th top-10 finish of 2013. "We had a solid practice, solid qualifying -- ninth -- just made improvements on when we were here the first time and got in the race and we were a little loose. Just hanging out in ninth there and 10th and just hanging on until we could get an adjustment in it and once we got an adjustment we took off. We lost a ton of track position with a pit road mishap and once that happened we were just fighting back and it went green the whole way through and we drove from I think 22nd or 25th all the way to seventh. Obviously, had a lot of speed in our Camry, but most of all just want to say thank you to Bandit Chippers. This is their last race this season, so glad to have had them on board all season and hopefully we'll be able to build that relationship next year."

Kligerman started from the ninth spot and fell back to 10th on lap five, where he remained when the first caution of the race occurred on lap 26. When the race went back green on lap 29, the Bandit Chippers Camry was scored ninth. He lost a spot on the ensuing restart and was running 10th when the second and final caution of the race slowed the field on lap 37.

Before pit road opened, Kligerman reported that his Toyota was "loose all the way around." Crew chief Eric Phillips ordered up a four-tire and fuel stop with both wedge and trackbar adjustments. After an unusually slow stop, the No. 77 Camry returned to the track scored in the 23rd spot for the restart on lap 40.

As the race continued under green-flag conditions, the talented youngster slowly but surely maneuvered his way back towards the top 10. By lap 85 he had returned to the top 15 and on lap 110 he moved back inside the top 10. With teams on varying pit strategies, regularly scheduled stops began and the Bandit Chippers Camry advanced all the way to the second spot before coming to pit road under green-flag conditions on lap 118. The over-the-wall crew administered a four-tire and fuel stop with an air pressure adjustment and returned their driver to the track scored one lap down in the 12th position.

Kligerman reported that his Toyota was "tight late exit" as the race approached the final 50 laps. On lap 155 he had returned to the top 10 and with 20 laps remaining had advanced into the ninth spot. With 10 to go, he maneuvered his way into the eighth spot and then with three laps remaining the talented youngster was able to work his way past Trevor Bayne to bring the Bandit Chippers Camry home in the seventh spot.

There were two caution periods totaling eight laps. Four drivers led a lap, exchanging the lead six times. Eleven drivers failed to finish the 28th race of the season.

Kligerman remains 10th in the Nationwide Series championship standings with 28 of 33 races complete, 169 points behind series points leader Sam Hornish Jr. The Kyle Busch owned No. 77 team ranks 13th in the owner's championship standings, 313 points behind the series-leading No. 22 team.

The No. 77 Toyota Racing team heads to Kansas Speedway in Kansas City Oct. 5 for the Kansas Lottery 300. Kligerman's Camry will carry a special "Project Pink: Protect Your Pair" paint scheme to help the Kyle Busch Foundation raise money and awareness for Pretty in Pink, a foundation that provides financial assistance and support to underinsured and uninsured North Carolinians with breast cancer. Live television coverage of Saturday's 200-lap event begins with NASCAR Countdown at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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